Fishhook releaser



G. B. LENNENv FISHHOOK RELEASER Filed Nov. 15, 1951 sept. s, 1953 lrl..

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frsnnoox RELEASER 4 Guy B. Lennen, Shirley, Ind. Application November 13, 1951,v semi No. 255,892

This invention relates to a new and improved device for releasing sh hooks when they become snagged on submerged rocks, roots, stumps or other obstructions.

The device is of weighted tubular form to be lowered, by means of a second line, along the line of the hook to be released. When the device reaches the hook, the second line is alternately raised and lowered to cause said device to gently strike and thus release the hook.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective releasing device of improved sectional construction enabling the fisherman to quickly and easily engage it with the line of Ia snagged hook, and permitting removal with equal ease.

Outer and inner sleeves are provided, each sleeve having a longitudinal split at one side. These sleeves are relatively rotated to place the splits in communication with each other to allow lateral passage of the line through said splits into the inner sleeve. The sleeves are then relatively turned to cause each sleeve to 'close the split of the other sleeve.

In such a structure, it is necessary to not only connect the two sleeves for relative rotation. but to so connect them that they cannot accidentally separate from each other bv relative endwise movement. A further obiect of the invention is to fulfill these two reouirements by simply threading the two sleeves together.

To alien the two splits. the inner sleeve is unthreaded slightly from the outer sleeveand to close said splits said inner sleeve is again threaded to the original evtent into said outer sleeve. Another obiect of the invention therefore is to limit this inward threading by providing the inner sleeve with a head at one end to abut the adiacent end of the outer sleeve. the abutting head and sleeve end also serving to frictionailv hold the sleeves against accidental relative turning.

When the device is not in use, its operating line may be wound around the outer sleeve. and the free end of this line may be clamped between the aforesaid end of said outer sleeve and said head of said inner sleeve tc prevent accidental unwinding of said line.

With the above and other obiects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood. the same consists in the novel form. combination 'and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described. shown in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

1 Claim. (Cl. 43-17.2)

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing vthe manner of using the device.`

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the two splits in registration with each other,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 2, and Y Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4'-'4 of Figure 2, the sleeve being turned to splitclosing position.

In the drawing above briefly described, a outer sleeve 5 is shown. This sleeve is of thickwalled form to impart most of the required weight to the device. The upper end of the sleeve 5 is counterbored at 6, and the wall of the counterbore is provided with a screw thread l. This end of the sleeve 5 is preferably tapered slightly as shown at 8. At one side, this sleeve 5 is formed with a longitudinal split 9, said split extending from end to end of said sleeve and from the exterior to the interior of the latter.

An inner sleeve I0 is located within the outer sleeve 5 and has slight clearance II with the latter from the counterbore 6 to the lower sleeve end I2. Within the counterbore, the inner sleeve III is provided with an extern-al lscrew thread I3 engaging the thread 1. Above the thread I3 the inner sleeve I0 is provided with a 'head I 4 to normally abut the upper end I5 of the outer sleeve 5. Attached to this head I4 is a bail IB to which the operating line I'I is connected. The inner sleeve is formed at one side with a longitudinal split I8 which extends from end to end of this sleeve and from its interior to its exterior. When the head I 4 -abuts the sleeve end I5. the split I 8 of the inner sleeve I0 is spaced about 180 from the split 9 of the outer sleeve 5, `as shown in Figure 4 and each split sleeve therefore closes the other.

ln using the device, the inner sleeve I0 is unthreaded slightly from the outer sleeve 5 to bring the two lsplits 9 and I Il into registration with each other. as seen in Figures 2 and 3. The device may then be moved laterally onto a ilshing line I 9. the hook 20 of which has become snagged in some submerged obiect 2I. The inner sleeve I0 is then turned to thread it back into the outer sleeve to the original extent. this movement being limited bv contact of the head I4 with the sleeve end I5. By turning the inner sleeve suiciently hard, the abutting surfaces of the head and outer sleeve will frictionallv lock the two sleeves against anni dental relative turning.

The two sleeves, surrounding the fishing line,

are lowered by means of the operating line l'l and the latter is alternately raised and lowered after the sleeve 5 reaches the hook 20. Repeated light blows may thus be struck upon the hook to release it, allowing hook and line and possibly the bait 5 also to be recovered.

The device may be easily detached from the iishing line by again relatively turning the sleeves to register their splits. Then, the operating line may be wound;L aroundthe outer sleeve 5i YThe free end/voi"h this line may be placed between the head ill and the sleeve end l'and said head may then be turned to clamp said free line end-YV tightly in place. In this condition tine;,device may be placed in the tackle box or the like in 15 readiness for further use. Y f l j Any suitable non-corrosiv.enfLetaLIiiiiyfbausedt in manufacturing the device and it willibe obvi-'' ous that minor variations in constructioninayrlce- I made without departing `from the spirit and scope 2'0 of the invention claimed.

A fish hook releaser compnisingag Qugteiysleave having@ lcnsitiidinai Split; anglaise", havingthe upper: end: area; Qfi itsV inteitipi screw-threaded; an inner sleeve of greater length thamthe; guter sleeves. said: innen sleevegalsof, having 'as similar longitudinal split, said inner sleeveI having ahead atntsuppersendianda bodyldepending-thereffrom and being;- of: smaller; externalf diari-:eter: than the 30 head to provide a shouldered relatipxr therein:-

'4 tween, said inner sleeve being exteriorly threaded below the shoulder, the thread relation of the pair of sleeves causing said splits to be non-alined when the head shoulder engages the upper end of the outer sleeve with the splits placed in alinement by a partial unthreading movement of the inner sleeve, the lower ends of the sleeves being substantially alined when the shoulder is engaged, the Wall thickness of the outer sleeve being. materially greaterthairthatg;o ,ffA thefbody of the inner sleeve, said innersleevehavingan axial opening of uniform diameter, said head carrying a bail positioned in alinement with the opening,

Referencescitea in. tnenieof this `patent BA'IENVIS.'

Number Name Date lli-9&8?? 'fill inghzasstyet,. al.v Y J an; 23; 190.6 2,353,357 Pauliekj.: ..-LA Jailyf 11,1944: 2:53437@ itinerei i...,......;i;.. Decrlg 1*.950 

